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Testimony Tuesday ~ Svetlana

Svet gave me permission to post her testimony for Testimony Tuesday. She was born around the same time as my youngest brother and sister (twins) 13 years my junior. We attended the same Russian Baptist Church years ago. The following is her testimony in her own words.

“I’d learned about God at home, and from my grandparents who often spoke to me about God. I heard my mom pray to this God every night…so I did too!

I was 7. Miss Heidi (hi Heidi!) was the most beautiful Sunday school teacher, and she made me feel very important! She had asked us before, so next time Miss Heidi invited us to “ask Jesus into our hearts”, I decided I’d raise my hand. I believed that God was real, and, I thought I’d get struck w/ lightening if I waited any longer…I was shy. Miss Heidi prayed with me and together, we asked Jesus to come dwell in my heart. I felt great! I was excited and felt a weight had been lifted…my chances of being struck by lightning had just been greatly diminished! I went home that day and immediately prayed that same prayer again…and again the next day…and again…and again. I needed to make sure God heard me, in case he’d been too busy before. I just couldn’t grasp the idea of his omniscience/omnipresence.

Though I’d never been to summer camp as a kid, in my early 20’s, God orchestrated a series of events that landed me in a job as summer staff at Hume Lake. It was there that I came to understand how very different Jesus and the Holy Spirit were, from the sovereign, (and distant), God that I knew. The staff studied Philippians for the first month, and the Holy Spirit introduced himself to me as he used the Apostle Paul to teach me that God was not only a serious, punishing God, but a loving God who took joy, joy, JOY in me, his daughter! I’d never been so encouraged as a believer as I devoured the book, again and again!

Hume Lake Christian Camp

For years my life verses were: Philippians 1:6 along with 2:13
“…He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus…for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” These days, though it may seem cliché God’s word can never be overused, my life verse is: Jer 9:11 “…for I know the plans I have for you…” It’s such a comfort to know that my Savior is always ahead of me and right around the corner!”

Wow! And people always rag on Bethany. Go figure! Some great stuff happened there and we need to praise God for the many ways he has used the different places and events in our lives. Thank you God for Sunday School teachers, for camp and the counselors, for church, for families, and for friends.